ICESat profiles of tabular iceberg margins and iceberg breakup at low latitudes

Ted Scambos; Olga Sergienko; Aitbala Sargent; Douglas MacAyeal; Jim Fastook

doi:10.1029/2005GL023802

ICESat profiles of tabular iceberg margins and iceberg breakup at low latitudes

Ted Scambos, Olga Sergienko, Aitbala Sargent, Douglas MacAyeal, Jim Fastook

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

ICESat elevation profiles of tabular iceberg margins and the Ronne Ice Shelf edge reveal shapes indicative of two types of bending forces. Icebergs and shelf fronts in sea-ice-covered areas have broad (∼1000 m wide), rounded, ∼0.6 m high 'berms' and outer edges that slope down several meters toward the water. Bergs in warmer water have 2 to 5m 'ramparts' with ∼1500 m wide edge-parallel 'moats' inboard of the edge. This latter pattern was first revealed in images from International Space Station (ISS) showing edge-parallel melt ponds on one iceberg just prior to its disintegration. Model results indicate the patterns are caused by hydrostatic and lithostatic forces acting on the ice face. 'Berm' profiles arise from differences between ice and water pressure along the face. 'Rampart-moat' profiles result from waterline erosion, creating a submerged bench of ice that lifts the ice edge. We use the results to discuss iceberg breakup at low latitudes.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	L23S09
Pages (from-to)	1-4
Number of pages	4
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	32
Issue number	23
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL023802
State	Published - Dec 16 2005
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Geophysics
General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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10.1029/2005GL023802

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title = "ICESat profiles of tabular iceberg margins and iceberg breakup at low latitudes",

abstract = "ICESat elevation profiles of tabular iceberg margins and the Ronne Ice Shelf edge reveal shapes indicative of two types of bending forces. Icebergs and shelf fronts in sea-ice-covered areas have broad (∼1000 m wide), rounded, ∼0.6 m high 'berms' and outer edges that slope down several meters toward the water. Bergs in warmer water have 2 to 5m 'ramparts' with ∼1500 m wide edge-parallel 'moats' inboard of the edge. This latter pattern was first revealed in images from International Space Station (ISS) showing edge-parallel melt ponds on one iceberg just prior to its disintegration. Model results indicate the patterns are caused by hydrostatic and lithostatic forces acting on the ice face. 'Berm' profiles arise from differences between ice and water pressure along the face. 'Rampart-moat' profiles result from waterline erosion, creating a submerged bench of ice that lifts the ice edge. We use the results to discuss iceberg breakup at low latitudes.",

author = "Ted Scambos and Olga Sergienko and Aitbala Sargent and Douglas MacAyeal and Jim Fastook",

year = "2005",

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doi = "10.1029/2005GL023802",

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journal = "Geophysical Research Letters",

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T1 - ICESat profiles of tabular iceberg margins and iceberg breakup at low latitudes

AU - Scambos, Ted

AU - Sergienko, Olga

AU - Sargent, Aitbala

AU - MacAyeal, Douglas

AU - Fastook, Jim

PY - 2005/12/16

Y1 - 2005/12/16

N2 - ICESat elevation profiles of tabular iceberg margins and the Ronne Ice Shelf edge reveal shapes indicative of two types of bending forces. Icebergs and shelf fronts in sea-ice-covered areas have broad (∼1000 m wide), rounded, ∼0.6 m high 'berms' and outer edges that slope down several meters toward the water. Bergs in warmer water have 2 to 5m 'ramparts' with ∼1500 m wide edge-parallel 'moats' inboard of the edge. This latter pattern was first revealed in images from International Space Station (ISS) showing edge-parallel melt ponds on one iceberg just prior to its disintegration. Model results indicate the patterns are caused by hydrostatic and lithostatic forces acting on the ice face. 'Berm' profiles arise from differences between ice and water pressure along the face. 'Rampart-moat' profiles result from waterline erosion, creating a submerged bench of ice that lifts the ice edge. We use the results to discuss iceberg breakup at low latitudes.

AB - ICESat elevation profiles of tabular iceberg margins and the Ronne Ice Shelf edge reveal shapes indicative of two types of bending forces. Icebergs and shelf fronts in sea-ice-covered areas have broad (∼1000 m wide), rounded, ∼0.6 m high 'berms' and outer edges that slope down several meters toward the water. Bergs in warmer water have 2 to 5m 'ramparts' with ∼1500 m wide edge-parallel 'moats' inboard of the edge. This latter pattern was first revealed in images from International Space Station (ISS) showing edge-parallel melt ponds on one iceberg just prior to its disintegration. Model results indicate the patterns are caused by hydrostatic and lithostatic forces acting on the ice face. 'Berm' profiles arise from differences between ice and water pressure along the face. 'Rampart-moat' profiles result from waterline erosion, creating a submerged bench of ice that lifts the ice edge. We use the results to discuss iceberg breakup at low latitudes.

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ICESat profiles of tabular iceberg margins and iceberg breakup at low latitudes

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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